Shelter support



April 1940- M. A. MEHLBURGER SHELTER SUPPORT Filed Dec. 8, 1939 2 Sheets-Sheet 1 A iforneys April 1940- M. A. MEHLBURGER 2.198.272

SHELTER SUPPORT Filed Dec. 8, 1939 2 Sheets-Sheet 2 A ttorneus Patented Apr. 23, 1940 UNITED STATES PATENT OFFICE 3 Claims.

-' which may be easily and quickly erected for use i and which will efficiently support mosquito bar netting or a tarpaulin in such a manner with respect to a sleeping device that the occupant will be thoroughly protected from insects or weather elements depending on the character of covering employed without the latter coming in contact with the occupant of the sleeping device and which may be readily collapsed into a small device for convenient carrying or storing when desired.

With these and other objects in view, the invention consists in certain novel features of construction, combination and arrangement of parts to be hereinafter more fully described and claimed.

For a complete understanding of my invention, reference is to be had to the following; description and accompanying drawings, in which Figure 1 is a top plan view illustrating a shelter support constructed in accordance with my invention and showing the same associated with a conventional sleeping cot in which the latter is diagrammatically shown.

Figure 2 is an end elevation illustrating the same.

Figure 3 is a plan view showing the support in a partly folded position.

Figure 4 is a fragmentary side elevation, partly in section, illustrating the means of detachably connecting one of the main supporting members of the shelter support to the cot.

Figure 5 is a view similar to Figure 4 showing an element for the mounting of one of the main supporting members in the ground.

Figure 6 is a detail sectional View taken on the line 6-6 of Figure 1.

Figure 7 is a detail sectional view taken on the line 'l-! of Figure 1.

Referring in detail to the drawings, the numeral 5 indicates a plurality of transversely arranged main supporting members, the longitudinally extending supporting members being indicated by the character 6. The members 5 and 6 are preferably constructed of metal and the members" 5 are of flexible metal so that they may be bent or curved into shape to form bows or arches when the device is erected for use.

Each of the main supporting members consists of sections A, B, C and D. The sections A and B are secured together; as shown at 'l, by rivets or like fasteners. The sections B and C are conne'cted by hinges 8 and the sections C and D are connected together by rivets 9.

The longitudinally extending members 6 each 5" are composed of a plurality of sections which sections are pivotally connected to each other and to the main supporting members 5, as shown at ill, and further said sections are pivotally connected, as shown at i i. The sections where pivot- 10 ed to each other, as shown at l i, are in the form of joints which will permit the sections of the members 6 to fold in one direction from a straight or extended position but which will prevent folding in an opposite direction.

By referring to Figure 3 it will be seen that a pair of the longitudinally extending members 6 are pivoted on the sections B of the main supporting members 5 while the other longitudinally extending members has the sections thereof pivoted on the sections C of the main supporting members 5. The longitudinally extending members thus pivotally connected to the main supporting members 5 will permit the main supporting members to be hinged onto each other when the sections of the longitudinally extending members are folded so as to bring the entire device into a compact article.

Each hinge 8 consists of semi-circular shaped members il secured on one of the sections of the main member 5 while the companion section thereto is slid'ably mounted on said substantially semi-circular shaped members, the specific construction of the hinge being clearly shown in Figure 6. This construction of the hinge will permit the sections C and D of the main members to be readily folded over onto the sections B and A.

The sections A and B of the main members have secured thereto extensions i2 which will 40 readily enter sleeves l3 suitably secured on a cot frame M for mounting the support on the cot frame with the main members in bowed or arched position and with the members 6 disposed straight and longitudinally of the cot. The device thus applied to the cot will efficiently support a tarpaulin over the cot or mosquito bar netting or equivalent material.

Should it be desired to mount the device in an operative position directly onto the ground over a mattress or some other sleeping device, ground pins ll of tapered formation may be driven into the ground and are provided with sockets l8 to receive the extensions 12.

One of the members 5 may have the sections A and B pivotally connected, as at 19, so that said sections may be swung upwardly when the device is in operative position to permit easy entrance to the cot at one side thereof.

Thus it will be seen that a device has been provided which is extremely easy and simple to erect with relation to a sleeping cot and will efficiently support a covering over the cot to protect the occupant and may be readily collapsed into an extremely compact device when desired so as to be convenient to carry or store.

It is believed that the foregoing description,

when taken in connection. with the drawings,

will fully set forth the construction and advantages of this invention to those skilled in the art to which such a device relates, so that further detailed description will not be required.

Having thus described my invention, what I claim is:

1. In a device of the character set forth com- 2. In a device of the character set forth comprising a plurality of flexible main supporting members, each including a plurality of sections secured to one another with certain of said sections having hinging relation, pivotally connected braces pivoted on certain sections of the main members, extension-s secured to the free ends of said main supporting members, and sleeves to frictionally receive the extensions and carried bya sleeping cot to retain the main supporting members in bowed position extending transversely of the cot.

3. Ina device of the character set forth comprising a plurality of flexible main supporting members, each including a plurality of sections secured to one another with certain of said sections having hinging relation, pivotally connected braces pivoted on certain sections of the main members, extensions secured to the free ends of said main supporting members, and ground pegs having sockets to receive the extensions for the support of the main supporting members in bowed positions. 7

MAX A. MEHLBURGER. 

